Harrogate sport hub set for £3m overhaul

Hollie Bone

Harrogate’s Ashville College has unveiled ambitious plans to invest £3 million to boost sporting provisions for its students.

The independent school is aiming to significantly improve and expand the existing facilities at its Yew Tree Lane sports centre, parts of which date back more than 50 years.

Subject to planning permission being granted, work will begin on the sports centre in Easter 2017, with a view to it being completed in the September of that year.

Ashville College Headteacher Mark Lauder said: “This significant investment demonstrates our commitment to providing our pupils with superb facilities, and marks another exciting chapter in the continual development of the campus.

“When completed, our sports centre will be a facility that we can be justifiably proud of.

In the last few years, the school has spent more than £940,000 on improving sports facilities including a more energy efficient pool, better rugby pitch drainage and installing new gym equipment and an all-weather surface pitch.

Mr Lauder said: “Sport is a big part of life at Ashville and, unlike many schools in the district and further afield, we are able to field A, B and C teams in rugby, netball and hockey.

“This means that pupils of all abilities are able to participate in competitive sports.”

The development plans will be on public display in the sport centre foyer from October 20 – 22, with a member of the project team on hand to answer questions from 5-6pm on October 20.